we have a campaign that is tied with the incumbent president of the united states. >> reporter: tied in national polls but not leading in any states that may win the race. and after the release of a secret tape, the held of the republican party was asked about the apparent disconnect over changing strategy. >> is he in denial? >> i don't think so, george. i think that we had a good week last week. we were able to frame up the debate. >> reporter: while romney says he doesn't need a turnaround, his campaign is kicking off a new strategy tonight. advisers promise an intense battleground schedule, in colorado tonight, then ohio and virginia. it's still not enough to quiet even republican critics. >> their core problem was carefulness, inability to focus on their own essential meaning. >> i think he's tak faking it. >> reporter: comments like those prompted ann romney's comments a few days ago. >> stop it. this is hard. you want to try it? get in a ring. >> reporter: and that provided fodder for "saturday night live." >> that's why running a republican campaign is so hard. if you're a de